Online Outreach Research Articles

P-1327. Enhancing Sexual Health Access for Hispanic and Latino Men in the Southern U.S through a Bilingual Peer-Navigation Campaign

Abstract Background Hispanic and Latino Gay and Bisexual Men (HLGBM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV and face structural barriers in accessing sexual health services. To address these barriers, we developed an online sexual health outreach campaign linked to bilingual peer-navigation services in metro Atlanta.Figure 1illustrates examples from our sexual health campaign, featuring our trained bilingual navigator. The campaign emphasized the availability of free or low-cost sexual health services, aiming to increase awareness and accessibility among the community. Methods In partnership with local organizations, health departments, and Latino-focused advertising agencies, we developed an online outreach campaign in Spanish to increase awareness of sexual health services among HLGBM. This campaign also connected individuals with a trained bilingual Latino peer navigator for service access (Figure 1). The campaign was piloted from May 22 to August 21, 2023 (Pilot Phase), it was later adopted by a local health department starting September 1, 2023. We systematically recorded data including the number of individuals contacting the peer navigator, city locations, weekly contacts, referral types, and self-reported outcomes until February 29, 2024 (Post-implementation Phase).Figure 2lists the cities of individuals who have contacted the navigator. Cities with two or fewer individuals are grouped under "Other." "Out of State" includes contacts primarily from Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In the figure, red circles represent the locations from which contacts were made. The size of each circle is proportional to the number of contacts originating from that area. Results A total of 259 individuals responded to the campaign by contacting the navigator – 70 during the pilot phase and 189 during the post-implementation phase. The campaign reached individuals from several locations with high Hispanic/Latino populations in the Atlanta area (Figure 2). HIV/STI testing and HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) were the most requested services. Participants initially requesting testing HIV/STI only were also provided with PrEP education and referrals. Importantly, a total of 28 participants requested linkage or re-engagement to HIV care (Table 1). During the pilot, 57% of all enrolled participants were successfully linked to services, while 85% did so post-implementation, reaching a higher linkage proportion (Table 1). On average 6 (range 1-19) individuals contacted the navigator per week (Figure 3).Table 1categorizes the types of services requested by individuals through the navigator. Services are grouped by demand frequency. Referral outcomes as reported by the client or the referral agency. “Completed” refers to cases where the patient received the intended service or referral. “Lost to Follow Up” indicates cases where the patient did not continue communication with the navigator, and “Pending” refers to ongoing referrals that have not yet concluded. *Only 50/70 patients in the pilot phase were followed for completion of services. Conclusion Our campaign and navigation program successfully reached HLGBM and linked them to local sexual health services. The pilot’s success led to the adoption of the campaign and navigation system by a local health department, with early data suggesting continued community engagement and service linkage, affirming the impact of culturally tailored public health interventions.Figure 3Displays the weekly contacts to the navigator during the pilot and post implementation phase. The arrow indicates when the navigator program was adopted by the Fulton County Board of Health. Data reflects sustained levels of interaction between individuals and the navigator throughout both phases, indicating robust engagement over time. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

What Are the Barriers, Facilitators and Interventions Targeting Help-Seeking Behaviours for Common Mental Health Problems in Adolescents? A Systematic Review.

Increasing rates of mental health problems among adolescents are of concern. Teens who are most in need of mental health attention are reluctant to seek help. A better understanding of the help-seeking in this population is needed to overcome this gap. Five databases were searched to identify the principal barriers, facilitators and interventions targeting help-seeking for common mental health problems in adolescents aged 10-19 years. The search was performed in June 2018 and updated in April 2019. Two independent screening processes were made using the eligibility criteria. Quality assessment of each study was performed, and findings summarised using a narrative synthesis. Ninety studies meet the inclusion criteria for this review for barrier and facilitators (n = 54) and interventions (n = 36). Stigma and negative beliefs towards mental health services and professionals were the most cited barriers. Facilitators included previous positive experience with health services and mental health literacy. Most interventions were based on psychoeducation, which focused on general mental health knowledge, suicide and self-harm, stigma and depression. Other types of interventions included the use of multimedia and online tools, peer training and outreach initiatives. Overall, the quality of studies was low to medium and there was no general agreement regarding help-seeking definition and measurements. Most of the interventions took place in an educational setting however, it is important to consider adolescents outside the educational system. Encouraging help-seeking should come with the increased availability of mental health support for all adolescents in need, but this is still a major challenge for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. There is also a need to develop shared definitions, theoretical frameworks and higher methodological standards in research regarding help-seeking behaviours in adolescents. This will allow more consistency and generalisability of findings, improving the development of help-seeking interventions and ensuring timely access to mental health treatments.Appeared originally in BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:293.

How policy advocacy promotes regulated antibiotic use: Evidence from meat duck farmers of China

Antibiotic residues resulting from the misuse of veterinary antibiotics pose a serious threat to global food safety and the ecological environment. Regulating the use of antibiotics is currently a major concern; however, existing literature on this issue remains insufficient. Therefore, to advance research in this area, this study utilizes data from 988 questionnaires collected across 9 provinces in China and employs the 3SLS systematic estimation method. It constructs an analytical framework to explore the mechanisms through which policy advocacy (PA) influences regulating antibiotics use (RAU) among meat duck farmers. Specifically, the study examines two pathways: “ PA - public opinion pressure perception (POPP) - RAU” and “ PA - moral responsibility (MR) - RAU.” Additionally, it explores the potential mechanisms through which PA impacts RAU among farmers. The results show that PA (Coef = 0.070, SE = 0.014) can promote RAU by increasing the level of POPP (Coef = 0.173, SE = 0.091). PA (Coef = 0.351, SE = 0.028) can also promote RAU by enhancing MR (Coef = 0.239, SE = 0.035). Meanwhile, this study introduces Internet use (IU) and reputational incentives (RI) as moderating variables to analyze their role in moderating the impact of PA on RAU. It was demonstrated that IU (Coef = 0.088, SE = 0.016) significantly enhances farmers' awareness of the value of RAU and amplifies the impact of PA on MR. However, IU (Coef = −0.017, SE = 0.008) was found to inhibit the effect of PA on POPP. RI fully satisfies farmers' need for “ honor “ and enhances the effectiveness of PA in promoting both POPP (Coef = 0.009, SE = 0.002) and MR (Coef = 0.058, SE = 0.004). Finally, the study proposes that the government expand PA channels, innovate methods, and combine online outreach with demonstrations to improve farmers' awareness of antibiotic use and address their reputational needs.

Perceptions of a community-based HIV/STI testing program among Black gay, bisexual, and other MSM in Baltimore: a qualitative analysis

ABSTRACT Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and STIs. Safe Spaces 4 Sexual Health (SS4SH), a community-informed, status-neutral HIV/STI testing intervention combines online outreach via geo-social networking apps and social media with mobile van testing. During 2018–2019, we recruited 25 participants for interviews about their perceptions of SS4SH compared to clinic-based testing. Participants were aged 21–65 years (mean 35); 22 (88%) identified as Black/African American; 20 (80%) identified as gay; and 10 (40%) were living with HIV. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a modified thematic constant comparative approach. Five themes emerged; two related to perceptions of online outreach materials (participants were drawn to eye-catching and to-the-point messages and desired more diversity and representation in messages), and three related to preference for the mobile van (participants found SS4SH provided more comfort, more privacy/confidentiality, and increased accessibility and efficiency). GBM is increasingly using geo-social networking apps to meet sexual partners, and tailored online outreach has the potential to reach historically underserved populations. SS4SH is a barrier-reducing strategy that may serve as an entry to a status-neutral approach to services and help reduce stigma and normalize accessing HIV services.

Psychological trauma and post-traumatic growth in parents of children with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood condition characterized by abnormal hemoglobin, leading to chronic hemolysis and vaso-occlusive complications. Caregivers of children with SCD often experience significant distress, akin to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to measure the degree of trauma and post-traumatic growth among parents (caregivers) of children with SCD in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 294 primary caregivers were recruited for this study, through direct phone calls and online outreach using contact information obtained from their primary treating physician in Maternity and Children Hospitals and the Hereditary Blood Diseases Center in Al-Ahsa. Inclusion criteria required caregivers not to be receiving professional mental health care and to have a child with SCD below the age of 18. Results indicate that caregiver gender significantly affected IESR scores, with mothers reporting higher scores than fathers. Family income had a significant effect on IESR as well. In terms of education level, higher-educated caregivers were less likely to experience severe trauma. Significant differences emerged between online and phone interview participants, with online respondents reporting higher post-traumatic growth and higher trauma levels. This study represents a crucial step in understanding the challenges faced by caregivers of children with SCD in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. However, the study has limitations, including a substantial portion of the sample being from a single clinic and a cross-sectional design.

Digital Strategies Supporting Social Network Approaches to HIV Testing: A Scoping Review.

This review captured how digital strategies support social network approaches to promote HIV testing. Overall, 29 studies were identified by searching PubMed and Embase for studies published up to June 2023. Existing studies revealed three types of digital strategies (social media (n = 28), online information channels (n = 4), and multifunctional digital platforms (n = 4)) split into four major modes of digital strategy-supported social-network-based HIV testing promotion: 1) Online outreach and recruiting, 2) gathering and identifying key populations for HIV testing, 3) communicating and disseminating online HIV testing health interventions, and 4) assisting and facilitating HIV testing uptake and distribution. Social network approaches supported by digital strategies yielded advantages in HIV testing education and distribution, which increases HIV testing coverage among key populations. Studies are needed on how to facilitate the use of digital strategies for social network-based HIV testing, as well as how to integrate them with existing HIV testing approaches.

Public Library Services in Rural Australia: Challenges and Prospects

ABSTRACT This article reports the findings of a survey of more than 100 Australian outer regional and remote public library managers. Public libraries in these areas serve more than 2.5 million Australians, representing an important yet under-researched topic. Using an online questionnaire, with a response rate of more than 40%, we asked public library managers in rural Australia about the services provided by both fixed-site and mobile libraries (where applicable), as well as online and other outreach services. Questions also covered the value, issues and challenges of respondents’ library services. Findings suggest that while rural libraries perform some similar functions to their more urban counterparts, and share some challenges, they are especially valued by their communities in the absence of alternative services and social outlets, making the library even more of a key facilitator, potentially, of social inclusion and community interaction. Respondents also noted an increasing demand for IT services and digital literacy support among their users, a need sometimes at odds with the challenge these libraries face maintaining up-to-date technical infrastructure.

Plant a seed series: the impact of an online outreach package on school pupils’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes to medicine

BackgroundMedicine is one of the most inaccessible professions in the United Kingdom (UK). The Plant a Seed (PAS) series was created to address this; it is an online pre-recorded three-part video series to “Inspire”, “Educate” and “Motivate” pupils from widening participation backgrounds on Medicine. We explored the impact of PAS on pupils’ knowledge, skills and attitude to Medicine.MethodsWe conducted a national pretest-posttest study of Years 7–9 pupils in the UK. 503 schools were invited to PAS, following ethics approval. Consented pupils viewed all three episodes asynchronously and completed a pre-and post-series Likert scale confidence questionnaire, which evaluated their knowledge, skills and attitudes to a medical career. A Shapiro-Wilk test showed the lack of a normal distribution (p < 0.05); therefore, a Wilcoxon signed-rank test statistically compared pretest-posttest results of each pupil.Results70 pupils in Years 7–9 from 2 schools participated in this study. PAS was shown to significantly increase pupils’ knowledge of the role and life of a doctor, medicine as a degree, admissions requirements, and careers in medicine (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in pupils believing they could study medicine. The intervention did not significantly increase the desire for pupils to study medicine (p = 0.187).ConclusionPAS significantly improved pupils’ knowledge, skills and confidence demonstrating the need and benefit to enrolment of the programme at scale. It did not significantly increase the number of pupils wishing to study medicine. Analysis at scale is required to evaluate the effectiveness of PAS as a key intervention to break down barriers to medicine.

Literacy Transmission of Guqin Culture at the Wangji School in Henan Province, China

This research investigates the literacy transmission of Guqin culture at the Wangji School in Henan Province, China, through the lenses of ethnomusicology and transmission theory. The goal is to gain an understanding of the educational opportunities provided by this institution and its function in preserving and advancing this ancient Chinese musical tradition. Located in Henan, a province known as the “Cradle of Chinese Civilization,” the Wangji School serves as a vital hub for Guqin education, performance, and transmission. Key informants provide perspectives on the diverse backgrounds and pedagogical approaches of Guqin instructors at the school. Using thematic analysis to look at observations and interviews as data shows that there is a focus on copying, expressing oneself, and combining lifestyle elements. The research highlights the school’s commitment to cultural preservation, fostering an inclusive learning environment, and employing online outreach. In conclusion, the Wangji School emerges as a beacon of Guqin culture, bridging tradition and innovation to ensure the continuity and vitality of this cherished musical tradition, offering valuable lessons for the preservation of cultural heritage in contemporary educational settings.

Black social media influencers engage higher percentages of Black gay and bisexual men in online outreach for HIV prevention research relative to paid ads.

Influencer-based social media marketing campaigns are a popular strategy to engage customers in many non-research industries (e.g., retail), but have been increasingly used in public health campaigns to reach and engage specific populations. However, few studies have directly compared the performance of influencer-based marketing with other ad strategies (e.g., paid ads) in achieving these goals. From March to September 2023, we conducted an influencer-focused marketing campaign in which we identified and partnered with predominantly Black LGBTQ + influencers in the United States South to promote engagement in our ongoing research. We then used web analytics and interest form data to compare performance of influencer posts versus paid ads over the same time period. We contacted a total of 358 influencers, 20 of whom ultimately agreed to post (85% Black/African American) and made a total of 28 posts on our behalf. A significantly higher percentage of users who clicked through influencer posts were Black (40% vs. 15%), were not currently using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) (67% vs. 62%), had no history of PrEP use (78% vs. 72%), and reported higher medical mistrust (12% vs. 8%) compared to those who clicked through paid ads. The percentage of Black men who have sex with men who were at high HIV risk, who were not taking PrEP, had no history of PrEP, or were high in mistrust, were all 2-3 times higher among those who clicked through influencer posts relative to paid ads. Influencer-focused marketing may be a powerful tool to efficiently reach and engage high-priority and hard to reach populations.

PAUSA: Results from an outreach programme targeted at individuals engaging in chemsex practices in the city of Madrid

Introduction: The Institute of Addictions of Madrid Health (City Council of Madrid) routinely employs outreach strategies aimed at different population groups. In 2020, a new outreach programme was initiated targeting individuals engaged in chemsex practices. This paper presents the design and initial outcomes of this programme. Objectives: The PAUSE outreach programme aims to engage chemsex users who have not yet sought professional help, providing them support at earlier stages to mitigate the risks associated with these practices, introduce breaks from them, or facilitate better access and linkage to public and community services specialised in chemsex within the city of Madrid. Materials and Methods: The programme’s design explored various approaches to engage active chemsex users, including online dissemination strategies and through cards and posters. Users were offered two types of interventions: brief and structured. The former were conducted via chat, while the latter were scheduled either for in-person meetings or through Skype/Zoom. Results: During the analysed activity period, a total of 739 brief interventions were conducted via chat, benefiting 442 users in total. Additionally, 190 structured sessions, either in-person or online, lasting an hour each were carried out. A total of 115 users were referred to addiction care centres. The programme’s services received excellent evaluations. Conclusions: The intervention model implemented in the PAUSE programme proved effective in reaching users engaged in chemsex during early stages. Online outreach through gay contact apps emerged as the most successful engagement strategy. Users served demonstrated a high acceptability of this intervention format.

587 #ILookLikeASurgeon: How Social Media Can Help Change the Face of Surgery

Abstract Aim This study was conducted to assess the benefit of using Twitter hashtags in campaigns that promote diversity and inclusivity amongst the medical workforce, specifically the surgical gender disparity discourse. Hashtags were assessed by their ability to establish the main issues faced by current female-identifying trainees and in promoting engagement with the movement. Method Five Twitter hashtags, specific to the surgical gender inclusivity discourse were examined: #ILookLikeASurgeon, #MedBikini, #WomenInSurgery, #OperateWithRespect, and #HammerItOut. Phase One involved the manual collection and thematic analysis of tweets to identify the main areas of gender disparity affecting trainees. Phase Two consulted TweetBinder to yield analytical information on hashtag engagement. Results Three-hundred-and-fifteen tweets were collected, with five main themes of gender-based disparity identified: sexism, bullying, sexual harassment, patients’ perceptions, and pay and job disparity. Female-identifying students and trainees describe experiencing exclusionary microaggressions, whilst bullying practices, and incidences of sexual harassment, have made surgery a hostile work environment for some. Structurally, the surgical curriculum remains limited in the support of non-clinical caring responsibilities, resulting in great pay disparity and global under-representation in the field. Hashtags increased the scale of the online discourse and outreach of the tweets, helping to promote the movement and increase engagement. Conclusion Following topical hashtags, thematic analysis of tweets can establish the main areas of gender disparity in surgery. Hashtags promote engagement from users globally and outside of the field, generating an impactful online discourse. The findings of this study reflect contemporary literature but personalise the statistics reported to further drive cultural change.

Feasibility and acceptability of a peer influencer delivered social media based intervention to promote mental health awareness for young Black and Latinx gay and bisexual men and transgender women

Background Young Black and Latinx Gay and Bisexual Men and Transgender Women (YBLGBMTW) face high levels of mental health related concerns. While online interventions show promise for addressing mental health conditions, few models focus on this population. Methods We used a pre-post design to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a peer delivered mental health awareness intervention for YBLGBMTW. This study was nested as the control arm from a larger study investigating if Peer Influencers (PIs) can improve HIV prevention. PIs helped develop an online outreach campaign to raise awareness of pertinent mental health topics as chosen by the PIs. PIs recruited YBLGBMTW participants from online social networks, posted contents over a six-week period, and participants completed baseline and post-intervention surveys. Results PIs successfully recruited 71 participants of whom 92% completed the six-week post-intervention survey. Participants had on average 6.7 engagements with posted contents and 82% of participants indicated being very satisfied with the intervention. Conclusion Using an intervention informed and delivered by PIs, participants were presented with information to address relevant mental health concerns. We found that such novel means of engaging this sample to raise mental health awareness is feasible, acceptable, and merits further development.

Introducing Pharmaceutics to Middle School Students using with Hypothesis-Driven, At-Home Activities

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in healthcare and related science majors at the undergraduate level. This presents an opportunity to introduce health science training in middle school science classes to familiarize students to various healthcare-related fields. The pharmaceutical science-based hands-on activities for middle school student presented here used over-the-counter vitamin supplements and inexpensive equipment for its easy replication at home or in an educational setting. The two main objectives of the activities were to signify the instructions of drug administration on labels of vitamin C effervescent tablets and to introduce effective drug delivery of iron supplement syrup. These activities followed Kolb’s framework of experiential learning theory through four key steps: (1) design a testable hypothesis, (2) identify experimental variables and controls, (3) incorporate wet chemistry and safety analysis into the process, and (4) data recording and presentation. This online and distance outreach model can be adapted in online K-8 summer or afterschool programs which can especially benefit students in rural regions or those with limited mobility. Furthermore, the pre- and post-activity sheets corroborated student’s ability to (a) combine their knowledge of kitchen chemistry and laboratory safety skills through active experimentation, and (b) reflect on the experimental results obtained for test variables and compare those to their original hypotheses.

Smart Engagement in Small Cities: Exploring Minority Participation in Planning

Smart engagement approaches are now widely applied in community planning processes. However, there continues to be a lack of representation from marginalized groups such as racial/ethnic minorities in planning processes. In this study, we explore what smart community engagement methods are being applied by small cities in the U.S., and how minority communities are participating in the planning process with those engagement methods. We analyzed planning documents and public engagement data from five small cities located in different regions of the U.S. with varying levels of minority populations. We evaluated the planning processes of the study cities, specifically comprehensive planning, and what smart community engagement tools they have applied. Our study shows that smart engagements are performed primarily through community surveys and online outreach initiatives. Despite adopting these approaches, most cities received lower participation from minority populations compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Cities with higher participation rates provided more engagement opportunities and conducted targeted community events and surveys to reach out to minority and low-income communities. From this study, we conclude that cities should apply varied methods for community engagement and should not rely solely on smart approaches to engage with minority communities. For cities to increase their overall civic participation, including those underrepresented, smart engagement approaches should be supported by targeted public events and outreach activities.

505 Use of Implementation Science to Identify Implementation Determinants of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Practice Guidelines

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: COPD is a progressive airways disease that results in death or disability. There is poor uptake of clinical guidelines (CPG) to manage COPD and studies to bridge this implementation gap have shown inconsistent results. Using implementation science principles we aim to understand COPD-CPG implementation determinants from providers’perspective. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The study is being conducted in ten VA Primary Care Clinics. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), a conceptual framework developed to guide systematic assessment of multilevel implementation contexts, we are using semi-structured guides to conduct key informant qualitative interviews (physicians, physician extenders and nurses), to support a formative evaluation. CFIR domains relevant to the study were determined by a multidisciplinary team. Informants are identified through online outreach and voluntary participation. Sampling adequacy will be assessed by achievement of code saturation. A qualitative template analysis will be used to summarize the barriers and facilitators of each component of COPD-CPG organized by CFIR-domain. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We anticipate a list of modifiable and non-modifiable contextual, recipient (provider and patient), and COPD CPG content (innovation) barriers to implementation. Many settings do not have critical elements of these CPG, such as a standardized inhaler education/assessment pathway, patient education material, or pulmonary rehabilitation referral pathway. Existing literature indicate reasons behind the insufficient uptake of COPD CPG include low familiarity with guidelines, perception of minimal value of guidelines by physicians, and time constraints; we will present contextual, recipient and innovation determinants specific to our setting. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This comprehensive assessment of barriers and facilitators to COPD-CPG will inform tool development and implementation strategies identification to improve COPD CPG uptake. COPD is the most common veteran lung disease. Improvement in COPD care has enormous potential for benefit for local veterans, as well as potential for wider dissemination.

Views of self in the context of self-injury recovery: a thematic analysis

ABSTRACT Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has emerged as a central mental health concern, with growing attention been paid to understanding NSSI recovery. Recently, much of this research has placed emphasis on people’s lived experience. Efforts in this regard highlight that many individuals report positive changes and develop strengths over the course of their recovery journeys. However, given the nascent stage of research in this area, how individuals come to see themselves in a positive manner within the context of recovery remains unclear. Thus, the present study investigated how individuals with lived experience of NSSI describe positive self-perceptions within their individual recovery contexts. Inductive thematic analysis was used to examine 80 positive recovery stories posted by individuals with lived NSSI experience on a popular online NSSI discussion forum. Our findings fell into four broad themes: Growth Requires Loss, There’s Light at the End of the Tunnel, Belief in One’s Capacity, and Cultivating Self-Worth. The present findings demonstrate that people with lived NSSI experience have positive self-perceptions in recovery that are grounded in growth, strength, and hope. Findings point to an array of implications for researchers, clinicians, and online outreach efforts that are conducive to fostering positive self-perceptions among people who self-injure.

HIV Testing by Gender Identity Among Sexually Active Transgender-, Intersex-, and Hijra Individuals Reached Online in India.

Online outreach may be an important strategy to reach Indian gender minority (GM) populations for HIV testing. However, little is known about Indian GM populations reached online who are sexually active and their HIV testing behaviors.We conducted a secondary analysis of an India wide online cross-sectional survey to assess HIV testing and identify associated factors. The 467 GM respondents identified their gender as transgender women (29.6%), Hijra (5.1%), intersex (37%), or gender non-binary (28.3%). Overall, almost half (47.5%) had never been tested for HIV; among respondents having condomless anal sex, half (50%) reported never testing for HIV. A decreased odds of ever HIV testing was associated with being unsure how to access free testing (compared to being easy; AOR = 0.36, 95%CI 0.20, 0.63) and unaware of comfortable testing sites (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.20, 0.63). Increased odds of testing were associated with identifying as Hijra (compared to transgender women; AOR = 4.07, 95%CI 1.18-16.92) and disclosing sexual behaviors to a doctor (AOR = 3.20, 95% CI 1.91, 5.46). In this GM sample recruited online, HIV testing rates were low. Online interventions are needed to engage individuals with diverse GM identities in India for linkage to accessible and acceptable HIV testing options.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Online Recruitment and an Online Brief Mindfulness Intervention Among Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

Background Pain among young adult patients with sickle cell disease (PWSCD) is a highly significant public health problem associated with reduced quality of life. Due to issues uniquely affecting PWSCD, including distrust of research, challenging life situations, debilitating pain, stigma, and logistical challenges (e.g., child or elder care and transportation), SCD researchers often find it challenging to meet sample size and enrollment targets. To our knowledge, all known SCD studies have solely recruited participants in person (e.g., clinics and local organizations) and utilized lengthy interventions with suboptimal recruitment and retention results. Newer recruitment methods, such as online recruitment, need to be explored for research among PWSCD. In this pilot project, we sought to address these challenges by investigating: 1) a novel method of using online outreach to recruit/enroll young PWSCD and 2) a novel, brief online mindfulness intervention adapted from Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE): Mini-MORE designed to treat pain among PWSCD. Methods Participants (N = 32) were recruited online (e.g., paid advertisements on Facebook and NextDoor; free advertisements on Facebook groups and Reddit) and screened by phone from October 25 to November 8, 2022. Participants watched an online Mini-MORE video. Immediately before and after watching the video, participants rated their pain intensity and unpleasantness on an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS). Afterward, participants were emailed an individualized link to additional audio recordings for ongoing practice. Immediately before and after accessing the additional recordings, participants rated their pain intensity, anxiety, and depression on an 11-point NRS. T-tests were used to examine the impact of Mini MORE on outcomes at two-time points. Results A total of 84 participants completed the self-screening. The majority of self-screeners resulted from free posts in Facebook groups (77%), Reddit (1%), and Craigslist (6%). Thirty-two (32) eligible participants agreed to join a Zoom meeting to watch the video. The entire Mini-MORE video was viewed by 31 of 32 participants (97%). Pain intensity decreased by 1.7 points (p<0.001, Cohen'sd=2.19), and pain unpleasantness decreased by 2.1 points (p<0.001, Cohen'sd=2.20). Listening to the supplemental recordings was associated with significant, immediate decreases in pain intensity by 1.3 points (p=0.015, Cohen'sd=2.05), anxiety by 1.8 points (p=0.022, Cohen'sd=3.10), and depression by 1.74 points (p=0.019, Cohen'sd=2.94). Conclusions Results suggest that online methods are feasible in recruiting and enrolling young PWSCD, and the online Mini-MORE intervention is acceptable among PWSCD. Future research is needed to assess whether Mini-MORE is associated with decreased pain symptomology in young PWSCD.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m overly campy”: The socio-cultural subjugation of femininity within gay socio-sexual applications

The prevalence of femmephobic attitudes amongst gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) men is well-reported, yet under-discussed employing femme theory. Femmephobia, or the socio-cultural regulation of femininity, is common within GBQ online socio-sexual applications, yet more research is needed to analyze the different ways femmephobia takes place within GBQ socio-sexual applications predominately used by GBQ men. This study analyzes qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with 79 participants who described their experiences using socio-sexual applications and interacting with online outreach and health information workers. Participants described the different ways femmephobia and the regulation of femininity manifests within GBQ socio-sexual applications and how such forms of regulation relate to self-presentation and the privileging of masculinity within GBQ socio-sexual applications. Participants further described how femmephobia and the denigration of femininity intersected with anti-Asian racism online.